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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Usage
Implied bias through quotation marks...
Is there a solution to the problem the newsmedia's constant use of quotation marks to imply a bias? That has to be one of my biggest pet peeves in recent years.
Quotations make all the difference in the world. It can insidiously tilt the reader's opinion to match the writer's. For example:
Deserter is brought before a military court
"Deserter" is brought before a militar court
Deserter is brought before a military "court"
Three sentences that imply three very different things. I've always had a sick feeling that journalists don't even bother trying to remain unbiased anymore. CNN is particularly notorious for the constant abuse of quotation marks. Other examples of how a journalist would abuse the language:
Kobe Bryant expresses remorse to the alleged victim. Kobe Bryant expresses "remorse" to the alleged victim. Kobe Bryant expresses remorse to the alleged "victim".
The blatant abuse of quotations in the newsmedia is so rampant, it's embarassing. Is there a general consensus on the proper, ethical solution for this problem? I think quotation marks should never be used at all by journalists, unless it was to quote an actual person.
Quotations make all the difference in the world. It can insidiously tilt the reader's opinion to match the writer's. For example:
Deserter is brought before a military court
"Deserter" is brought before a militar court
Deserter is brought before a military "court"
Three sentences that imply three very different things. I've always had a sick feeling that journalists don't even bother trying to remain unbiased anymore. CNN is particularly notorious for the constant abuse of quotation marks. Other examples of how a journalist would abuse the language:
Kobe Bryant expresses remorse to the alleged victim. Kobe Bryant expresses "remorse" to the alleged victim. Kobe Bryant expresses remorse to the alleged "victim".
The blatant abuse of quotations in the newsmedia is so rampant, it's embarassing. Is there a general consensus on the proper, ethical solution for this problem? I think quotation marks should never be used at all by journalists, unless it was to quote an actual person.
Top answer
[nq:1]Is there a solution to the problem the newsmedia's constant use of quotation marks to imply a bias? That has ... is brought before a military court "Deserter" is brought before a militar court Deserter is brought before a military "court"[/nq] Examples two and three, to my mind, are entirely different uses of quotation marks.
- [nq:1]Is there a solution to the problem the newsmedia's constant use of quotation marks to imply a bias?
- That has ...
- is brought before a military court "Deserter" is brought before a militar court Deserter is brought before a military "court"[/nq] Examples two and three, to my mind, are entirely different uses of quotation marks.
- Whilst the third example shows bias to me, the middle one doesn't: it acknowledges that until he's convicted, his designation as a deserter remains alleged rather than proven [nq:1]Three sentences that imply three very different things.
- I've always had a sick feeling that journalists don't even bother trying ...
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23 Answers
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[nq:1]Is there a solution to the problem the newsmedia's constant use of quotation marks to imply a bias? That has ... is brought before a military court "Deserter" is brought before a militar court Deserter is brought before a military "court"[/nq]
Examples two and three, to my mind, are entirely different uses of quotation marks.
Whilst the third example shows bias to me, the middle one
Examples two and three, to my mind, are entirely different uses of quotation marks.
Whilst the third example shows bias to me, the middle one
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[nq:1]Is there a solution to the problem the newsmedia's constant use of quotation marks to imply a bias? That has ... journalists don't even bother trying to remain unbiased anymore. CNN is particularly notorious for the constant abuse of quotation marks.[/nq]
They are? The website? The US edition, or the International? Can you copy and paste some examples? Who has been criticizing them? (You
They are? The website? The US edition, or the International? Can you copy and paste some examples? Who has been criticizing them? (You
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[nq:1]Since we're peeving journalistic pets: One of these days I'm going to write to the British newspapers that still tend ... of four, wearing a tailored blue suit with lace trim, delivered her speech of thanks for the Nobel Peace Prize."[/nq]
Yes, I'd want to know her age and current marital status as well.
Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany
"it's the network..." "The Journe
Yes, I'd want to know her age and current marital status as well.
Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany
"it's the network..." "The Journe
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[nq:2]Since we're peeving journalistic pets: One of these days I'm ... delivered her speech of thanks for the Nobel Peace Prize."[/nq]
[nq:1]Yes, I'd want to know her age and current marital status as well.[/nq]
Don't forget net worth!
dg
[nq:1]Yes, I'd want to know her age and current marital status as well.[/nq]
Don't forget net worth!
dg
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[nq:1]Is there a solution to the problem the newsmedia's constant use of quotation marks to imply a bias? That has ... is brought before a military court "Deserter" is brought before a militar court Deserter is brought before a military "court"[/nq]
There are many examples of bias in news reporting but this one, I've never seen. Our local paper, The Oregonian, has put "Swift Boat Veterans for
There are many examples of bias in news reporting but this one, I've never seen. Our local paper, The Oregonian, has put "Swift Boat Veterans for
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[nq:1]Since we're peeving journalistic pets: One of these days I'm going to write to the British newspapers that still tend ... of four, wearing a tailored blue suit with lace trim, delivered her speech of thanks for the Nobel Peace Prize."[/nq]
Isn't that just because the stout, grey-haired grandfathers of four in the news all wear dark suits, pale blue shirts, striped ties and sport dinky Am
Isn't that just because the stout, grey-haired grandfathers of four in the news all wear dark suits, pale blue shirts, striped ties and sport dinky Am
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[nq:1]Is there a solution to the problem the newsmedia's constant use of quotation marks to imply a bias? That has to be one of my biggest pet peeves in recent years. [/nq]
I see nothing wrong with it. The writer means what the writer writes. Eliminating the quotation marks in the examples you give changes the intended meaning of the writer.
What I find amusing is some writers' confusion a
I see nothing wrong with it. The writer means what the writer writes. Eliminating the quotation marks in the examples you give changes the intended meaning of the writer.
What I find amusing is some writers' confusion a
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[nq:1]What I find amusing is some writers' confusion about the purpose of calling someone a suspect. I heard an item ... The suspect robbed the store, and then the suspect hit the proprietor over the head, and then the suspect fled.[/nq]
And I find amusing the over-use of 'alleged":
". . . was charged with alleged fraud."
Is alleged fraud a crime, then? Surely they were charged with fr
And I find amusing the over-use of 'alleged":
". . . was charged with alleged fraud."
Is alleged fraud a crime, then? Surely they were charged with fr
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[nq:2]What I find amusing is some writers' confusion about the ... the proprietor over the head, and then the suspect fled.[/nq]
[nq:1]And I find amusing the over-use of 'alleged": ". . . was charged with alleged fraud." Is alleged fraud a crime, then? Surely they were charged with fraud![/nq]
The reporter had a C- average in journalism school and all he can remember is, "when in doubt thr
[nq:1]And I find amusing the over-use of 'alleged": ". . . was charged with alleged fraud." Is alleged fraud a crime, then? Surely they were charged with fraud![/nq]
The reporter had a C- average in journalism school and all he can remember is, "when in doubt thr
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[nq:1]Is there a solution to the problem the newsmedia's constant use of quotation marks to imply a bias? That has ... I think quotation marks should never be used at all by journalists, unless it was to quote an actual person.[/nq]
Well, no offense, but DUHH. When someone in the media writes something like "Kobe expresses 'remorse'", it's not to cause bias for the victim, against Kobe, whatev
Well, no offense, but DUHH. When someone in the media writes something like "Kobe expresses 'remorse'", it's not to cause bias for the victim, against Kobe, whatev
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